Summary

In December 2014 there was a total of 3.3 million visits to the sponsored museums and galleries.

Visits to the sponsored museums and galleries were 6.8 per cent higher in December 2014 compared to December 2013.

This release provides information about visits to sponsored museums and galleries in England. The visit figures are updated on the first Thursday of each month, and will be one month in arrears to allow time for the museums and galleries to collect the data. The release is a time series including previously published data.

The total visit figure refers to all visits to the sponsored museums and galleries, excluding corporate events.

Data collection methods vary between institutions, and each uses a method appropriate to its situation. All data is collected according to the guidelines issued in 2012
(MS Word Document, 81KB)
.

All museums and galleries are subject to seasonal fluctuations in the numbers of visits they receive. The general trend is for the visit numbers to be higher during school holidays. Some temporary exhibitions attract large numbers of visits and this will also have an impact on the monthly figures. There may also be occasions when all or part of a museum or gallery is closed for refurbishment, affecting the monthly total.

Figures may be subject to revision. Any amendments will be published on this website in accordance with the Department’s revision statement, available in our compliance statement.

The UK Statistics Authority

This release is published in accordance with the Code of Practice for Official Statistics (2009) produced by the UK Statistics Authority (UKSA). The UKSA has the overall objective of promoting and safeguarding the production and publication of official statistics that serve the public good. It monitors and reports on all official statistics, and promotes good practice in this area.

Pre-release access

The Pre-release access list
(PDF, 41.8KB, 1 page)
contains a list of ministers and officials who have received privileged early access to this release of Museum and Gallery monthly visit figures. In line with best practice, the list has been kept to a minimum and those given access for briefing purposes had a maximum of 24 hours.

Contact

Responsible statistician: Jodie Hargreaves

For any queries please contact 020 7211 6327 or evidence@culture.gov.uk

Published:

1 March 2013

Updated:

5 February 2015

+ full page history

5 February 2015 9:30am

Monthly museum figures updated

8 January 2015 9:30am

Publication of sponsored museum and gallery visits November 2014

4 December 2014 9:30am

Publication of sponsored museum and gallery visits for October 2014

6 November 2014 9:37am

Publication of September 2014 visit figures for sponsored museums and galleries

2 October 2014 9:30am

Publication of sponsored museums and galleries visit figures for August 2014

7 August 2014 9:30am

Publication of sponsored museum and gallery visit figures for June 2014